China Exchange (Gerrard Street) | Culture Hub
Q: What do Axl Rose, Cherie Blair, Jeremy Clarkson and Gwyneth Paltrow all have in common?
A: They’ve all spoken at the China Exchange.
Since setting up shop at Gerrard Street’s old BT Telephone Exchange in 2015, China Exchange has quickly become the beating heart of Chinatown’s arts and culture hub.
Conceived by businessman and entrepreneur Sir David Tang, as a forum for ideas and ways to introduce Chinese culture to a new audience, China Exchange offers a unique platform to a diverse and disparate selection of extraordinary people via their Prudential Series. A calendar of talks from well-known names and experts in their field.
But it’s not all talk and no play. The bright white, airy and light multipurpose space occupies two floors and is always in a state of flux – from dance rehearsals to music concerts and art exhibitions, it’s a testament to an events schedule which masterfully harmonises a whole host of talent and ideas.
Altruism underpins China Exchange’s ethos, exemplified by their Cultivate Programme which coaches and supports up-and-coming creatives. Or their Curiosity Collective, granting disadvantaged under 22s access to their activities.
As in the past as is now, the building’s legacy of starting conversations truly lives on at China Exchange.